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Colo. Senate passes uranium bill

DENVER — The state Senate has passed a bill requiring uranium mines and mills to clean up nuclear waste before accepting more radioactive material.

The Senate voted 24-9 in favor of the bill today. It now heads back to the House, where backers hope lawmakers will agree with changes made in the Senate.

Mines and mills are now allowed to postpone cleanup until they finish production and decommission their production facilities. Lawmakers are concerned that a national focus on nuclear energy will allow mines to postpone cleanup of radioactive wastes while they ramp up production.

The Cotter Corp. wants to refurbish its mill in Canon City, an EPA Superfund site since 1984, but says the bill would force it out of business.